Apparatus for making square tubing.



w. F. BURDITT, JR.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING SQUARE TUBING.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-20.1912.

1, 173,1 69. Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

9mm 1'? MAW,

THE COLUMBIA XILANOGRAPH 0 WASHINGTON, D. C.

W. F. BURDITT, JR. APPARATUS FOR MAKING SQUARE TUBING.

APPLICATION FILED DEC- 20, I912. 1,173,169. 7

Patented Feb. .29, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTORNEY.

THE COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPH (30., WASHINGTON. D- C.

1/ @wssm J w. F. BURDITT, IR. APPARATUS FOR MAKIN G SQUARE TUBING.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-20, I9I2.

Patented Feb. 29,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 20 25 f% M f 'i W hnonmsr- W. F. BURDITT, JR.

APPABAT 0R MAKIN ARE TUBING. AP ION FILED I 0.1912.

1,173,169, Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

WITNESSES 7 J w WILLIAM F. BURDITT, JR., 011' LYONS FAR-MS, NEW JERSEY,ASSIGNOR T0 LOY AND NAWRATH COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

APARATUS FOR MAKING SQUARE TUBING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 23?, 1918.

To all whom, it may concern Be it known that IJVILLIAM F. BURDITT, J12,a citizen of the United States, residing at Lyons Farms, in the countyof Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain Improvements inApparatus for Making Square Tubing, &c., of which the following is aspecification.

The objects of this invention are to provide means for bendingsheet-metal into tubes of square or rectangular cross section withmaximum speed and convenience; to avoid the necessity for mounting thefemale die upon the sliding carriage; to PlOVldS a swinging head uponthe upper die holder, which is adapted to carry the mandrel carrier andalso the closing-in die; to thus enable the mandrel and the closing-indie to be brought successively into position to cooperate with thefemale die, with great accuracy and exactness; to provide a female diecomprising a grooved middle member to form the initial bends andoverhang the side members to form the closing bends; to securesimplicity of construction and operation; to reduce the cost ofmanufacture of tubing, and to secure other advantages and results as maybe brought out in the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals ofreference indicate the same parts throughout the several figures, Figure1 is a front elevation of a power press embodying my invention; Fig. 2is an elevation similar to Fig. 1, with certain parts broken away,showing on larger scale portion of the hammerwith the upper die holderand dies carried thereby, the -mandrel being in position for action andthe closing die idle; Fig. 3 is a similar elevation of a portion of theswinging head of the upper die carrier with the closing die in positionfor action and the mandrel idle; Fig. 4 is a section on line A-A of Fig.1, showing the initial bend in the sheet metal just completed; Fig. 5 isa similar section showing the square tube completed and the consequentchange in positions of parts from those shown in Fig. 4:. y i

In said drawings, and particularly in Fig 1, I have shown a sheet-metalbending pres: of ordinary type having housings l, 1, upper connectingleaf 2 supporting the powe driven shaft 3 which actuates the hamme. atthrough eccentrics or cranks 5, 5 and having between the lower ends ofsaid housings the anvil 6. A lower die holder 7 is mounted upon saidanvil in carrying out my invention, said die holder being held centralby means of a rib 8 on its base which enters a corresponding groove inthe anvil. Said die holder is recessed longitudinally at its upper part,as at 9, to receive the lower die members and adjustable side wallssupporting the same. The side walls 10, 10, comprise heavy strips whichstand edgewise upon the floor of the chamber or recess 9, opposite andparallel to each other, and extend to the top of the die holder. Eachside wall 10 is adjusted toward and away from the side of the recess 9,by means of screws extending through the side of the die holder andarranged in rows. The middle row of screws 11 are threaded each at itsinner end to screw into the side wall, as at 12, and extend looselythrough the die holder, having outer threaded ends 13 each of whichreceives a nut lat which can be tightened to draw the side wall outward.The screws or bolts 15 of the upper and lower rows all work through thedie holder and abut against the side wall 10, being provided at theirouter ends with heads 16 for turning and lock nuts 17 for holding themin fixed position. Obviously by loosening the nuts 1-1 on the middle rowof bolts, the side wall 10 can be moved bodily inward by screwing in thebolts 15 in both the upper and lower rows, or by screwing in one row andscrewing out the other row, the side wall 10 can u be rocked slightly,there being enough looselness of parts to permit such movement.

In the middle of the recess 9 of the die holder 7 is placed the middlemember 18 f the lower die, said member preferably having at its lowerend a reduced extremity 9 entering a groove 20 in the floor of thetrecess, and having adjacent to said reduced :edge portion lateralrecesses 21, 21. The pper edge of said die member 18 has a V-shapedgroove 22 adapted to fit against {one corner and the two adjacent sidesof athe tube to be formed, as shown in Figs. 4

'nd 5 of the drawing. At the sides of said middle member 18 are the sidemembers 23, 23 each lying between the middle memltber and one of theside walls 10 already described and comprising a strip or bar which itits lower edge is rounded and has a lateral rib 24: extending into therecess 21 of the middle die member 18. Each side member 23 at its loweredge portion substantially fills the space between the side wall 10 andthe middle member 18 of the die, but the opposite sides of the sidemember converge upwardly, so that ,t its upper edge the member isconsiderably narrow-er than the space between the side walls 10 ber andextend upward from the edge of the groove 22 therein to form a. portionof the next adjacent side of the tube to be produced. The upper edgeportions of these side members 23, 23 of the dies are narrow enough,however, for them to tilt or swing away from the middle member 18 farenough so that said flanges '25, 25 shall clear the groove 22 of themiddle :die memher and permit free access for the sheetmetal to bepressed down into saidv groove, as WlllbG hereinafter more fullyexplained.

Adjustable gages 27 are provided upon the lower die holder '7 to serveas stops in bringing the sheet metal to be bent into proper position.

The hammer 4 has mounted upon its lower edge or face an upper die holder28 which is longitudinally grooved as at 29 to receive the lower edge ofthe :hammer and furthermore has straps or arms 30 extending upwardly atthe sides of the hammer with outwardly turned upper ends 31 ada ted toreceive bolts or screws 32 extending through do s 33 which overlap uponthe shoulders .34 of the hammer. In this or any other suitable andwell-known manner the said upper die holder is rigidly secured to thehammer, and to the lower part ofsaid holder is pivoted a swinging head35. This swinging head consists essentially of a shaft 36 which isjournaled in bearings 37, withcaps 38 therefor, at intervals of thelength of the hammer. Between said bearings the said shaft 36 hasintegral lateral extensions '39 which provide at one side surface aseries of recesses 40 adapted to receive a mandrel carrier 41 secured insaid recesses by bolts or screws 42 and being disposed cdgewise radiallywith respect to the shaft 36. The edge of said carrier next to the shafthas a solid seat against the wall of the recess 40, and its oppositeedge is reduced .as at 43 to enter a corresponding groove 44 in themandrel 45. Said mandrel has a V-shaped lower edge adapted to fit thegroove 22 of the middle member of the lower die to shape one corner andtwo adjacent sides of the tubing "to be made, and the two lateral edgesof the mandrel are also V- shapechasat 46, to fittwo other corners ofthe tube to be made.

At its opposite ends the mandrel 45 has extensions 47, which can be thesame for mandrels of all different sizes, and which extensions areadapted to be engaged by latches 48, 48, one pair at each end of themandrel carrier 41, said latches serving to hold the mandrel .to thecarrier until itis is sufi icient to retain it therein and cause thelatches to pull off as the hammer ascends. These latches are best shownin Fig. 5, where 49 indicates a bolt or pin upon which they are pivotedand 50 indicates a spring which draws the latches together intoengagement at their:notches 51 with the end extension of the mandrel, asshown in dotted lines in Fig. 4.

The lateral extensions 39 of the swinging head 35 also provide surfacesor sides 52 which are vsubstantially parallel to the surfaces upon whichthe mandrel carrier 41 is mounted, said surfaces 52 being recessedforced into the lower die, when the friction as at '53 to receive a diecloser'54 which projects radially away from the shaft '36 at rightanglesto the mandrel carrier 41.

This die closer '54 is channel-shaped with a a rod 61 whichextends alongthe front of the machine and by means of which the swinginghead canbeswung. In operation, said handle rod 61 is pushed upward, vas shown inFig. v4, to bring the mandrel carrier 41 with its mandrel 45 directlyabove the groove 22 of the lower die member. The hammerbeing raised, anda sheet of metal being properly placed upon the lower die member, adownward stroke of the hammer will seat the mandrel as shown in Fig. 4,the side members .23, 23 of thelower die being pushed apart to permitthe downward passage of the mandrel and sheet metal. The parts arepreferably so adjusted, however, as that the said side members engagethe sheet metal opposite the lateral corner edges of-the mandrel 45. andstart a sharp bend .thereat so that when the mandrel is seated theportions of sheet metalproiecting above said corners converge upwardslightly,

as shown in .Fig. 4. When the hammer .is

elevated again, the mandrel will be left as already described, and thenthe handle rod 61 is depressed to turn the swinging head 35 into theposition shown in Fig. 5, so that the die closer 54; is directly abovethe lower die member. A downstroke of the hammer will then cause saiddie closer to engage the upper edges of the side members 23, 23 of thelower die, and press them toward each other, thus closing the freeupwardly extending and already converging sides 66, 67 of the tube beingmade, as shown in Fig. 5. The hammer is then raised again, the mandreldrawn out of the completed tube and said tube removed.

Preferably some means is provided for securing exact positioning of theswinging head 35 in its two positions, such for instance as shown in thedrawings where 69 indicates a ball adapted to project from a bore 70 inthe stationary portion 29 of the upper die holder into depressions orsockets 71 in the shaft 36, a spring 72 always tending to project saidball. Obviously, said ball will serve as a detent when it drops into oneof the sockets of the swinging head, to position said head, and at thesame time, by means of the leverage of the arms 60, the swinging headcan be turned by force in spite of said detent, forcing the ball backagainst the spring 72. As many of these detents may be arranged alongthe length of the shaft 36 of the swinging head as is desired.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. In an apparatusof the character descr bed, a lower die holder having a longitudinalchannel, side walls in said channel adjustable toward and away from eachother. means for adjusting said side walls, a middle die member and sidemembers between said middle member and the side walls, said side membersadapted to swing at their upper edges to overlie the middle member or toclear the same. a mandrel, and means for forc ng said mandrel intoengagement with the lower die.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a lower die comprising amiddle member and opposite side members eXtending above said middlemember and adapted to swing at their u per edges to overlie the middlemember. s de walls outside said side members for holding them alwavs inposition to cooperate with the middle member in shaping the metal, meansfor moving said side walls toward or away from each other and holdingthem fixed when adjusted, a mandrel, and means for forcing said mandreldownwardly to simultaneously shape the metal upon said middle member andside members.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a lower die holder havinga longitudinal channel, side Walls in said channel, screws workingthrough the sides of the die holder into engagement with said side wallsto adjust the same, a middle die member in said channel, movable sidemembers between said middle member and the side walls, a mandrel, meansfor forcing said mandrel into engagement with the middle member, andmeans for moving said movable side members.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination With alower die having members adapted to be closed, an upper die carrierhaving a grooved seat, a swinging head having a longitudinal portion ofitself adapted to turn in said grooved seat and bear against the same, amandrel engaging member and a die closer carried by said head inangularly separated positions, means for swinging said head, and meansfor raising and lowering said die holder.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with alower die having members adapted to be closed, of an upper die holderproviding at its lower part a series of journal bearings, a swinginghead having a shaft portion mounted in said bearings and a series ofalined lateral extensions projecting from said shaft portion, a mandrelengaging member and a die closer mounted on said lateral extensions atan angular distance apart, means for swinging said head. and means forraising and lowering said die holder.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with alower die having members adapted to be closed, of an upper die holderproviding journal bearings at its lower part, a swinging head having ashaft portion mounted in said journal bearings and lateral extensions atone side of said shaft portion, said lateral extensions providinglongitudinal seats separated angularly, a mandrel engaging member and adie closer mounted in said seats, and means for swinging said head tobring either said mandrel engaging member or die closer into alinementwith the lower die.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, a lower die comprising amiddle member having an undercut recess, an adjustable side wall at adistance from said middle member, a side member between said middlemember and side wall, said side member having a lateral rib e tendinginto the undercut recess of the middle member, and means for swingingthe side member toward said middle member.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, a lower die comprising amiddle member having undercut recesses on its opposite sides, adjustableside walls at a distance from said middle member, side members betweensaid middle member and side walls said lit) side members havinglateralribs extending into the undercut recesses of the middlemember,-and means for swinging the side members toward said middlemember.

9. In an apparatusof the character described, a lower die comprising amiddle member having undercut recesses on its opposite sides, adjustableside walls at a dis tance from said middle member, tapered side membersbetween said middle member and side walls said side members havinglateral ribs extending into the undercut recesses of the middle member,and means for swinging the side members toward said middle member.

10. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, a lower die comprisinga middle member and opposite side members adapted at their inner edgesto overlie'said middle member and being beveled at their outer edges,means for holding said side members always in position to cooperate withthe middle member in shaping metal, a mandrel, means for forcing saidmandrel into engagement with the middle member and side memberssimultaneously, and a closer above the lower die having flanges withconverging bevels overlying said side members of the lower die andadapted to engage said beveled edges and press said side members towardthe mandrel.

11. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination. with alower die having members adapted to be closed, an upper die carrierhaving a grooved seat, a winging head having a longitudinal portion ofitself adapted to turn in said grooved seat and bear against the same, amandrel engaging member and a die closer carried radially by said headin angularly separated positions, means for swinging.

said head, and means for raising and lowering said die holder.

'12. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with alower die having members adapted to be closed, of an upper die holderproviding at its lower part a series of journal bearings, a. swinginghead having a shaft portion mounted in said bearings and aseries ofalined lateral extensions projecting from said shaft portion, a mandrelengaging member anda die closer mounted on said lateral extensions at anangular distance apart, arms at opposite ends of said swinging head,means connecting the free ends of said arms whereby the operator mayswing said arms, and

main

means for raising and lowering said die holder.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with alower die havingmembers adapted to be closed, of an upper die holderproviding journal bearings at its lower part, a swinging head having ashaft portion mounted insaid journal bearings and lateral extensions'atone side of said shaft portion, said lateral extensionsprovidinglongitudinal seats separated angularly, a mandrel engagingmember and a die closer mounted in said seats, means for swinging saidhead to bring either said mandrel engaging member or die closer intoalinement with the lower die, and "means for retaining said head ineither position.

1 1-. In an apparatus of the character described, thejcombination with;a lower die having members adapted to be closed, of an upper die holderproviding'journal bearings at its lower part, a swinging head h'aving ashaft portion mounted in said journal bearings and lateral extensionsatone sidetof said shaft portion, said shaft'portion providing socketsand said lateral extensions providing longitudinal seats separatedangularly, a'mandrel engaging member and a 8 die closer mounted in saidseats,m-eans for swinging said head to'bring either said mandrelengaging member or die closer into alinement with the lower die, andmeans adapted'to enter said sockets for retaining said head in eitherposition.

15. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with alower die havingmembers adapted to be closed, ofan upper die-holderproviding journal bearings at its lower part, a swinging head having ashaft porti-on mounted in said journal bearings and lateral extensionsat one side of said shaft portion, said shaft portion providing socketsand said lateral extensions 'providing longitudinal seats separatedangularly, a mandrel engaging member and a die closer mounted in saidseat, means for swinging said head to bring either saidmandrel Vengagingmember or die closer into alinement with the lower die and a springactuated ball in said upper die holder adapted to enter said sockets forretaining said head in either-position.

IL-LIAM F. BUR-DITT, J

lVitness'es:

RUSSELLJYL EVERETT, Howauo P. KING.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingtheCommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G,

